Magnetically-controlled valve



' Nov. 28,- 1950 E. PAILLE 2,531,824

MAGNETICALLY-CONTROLLED VALVE Filed May 10, 1947 INVENTOR. EUGENE EQJLLE BY /&6 X M ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 28, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENTFJOFFICE1 4 1 2,531,824 L fl" E H- IRQ Yam 3' Eugene l 'aille, Los Angeles, Calif-y aseignor to I General Controls .00., Glendale, CaliL, a corporation of California Application ma'y'lofiw, Serial No. 74

This invention relates to magnetically operated valves, and more particularly to a valve adapted to be operated between an open and a partiallytion. pilot valve for controlling supply of pressure fluid e 8 Claims: (cuss- 25) to a motor which comprises apressure chamber continuously vented through a restriction; the

valve being so arranged that when fully-open its flow capacity is greater than that of the restriction so that pressure is then built-up in the chamber, and substantially the same as or slightly less than that of the restriction when in said partially-closed position so that the pressure in the chamber is reduced.

An object of this invention is to provide a pilot valve of the character, described which, while very simple and easily constructed, is so sensitive that it can be operated by the small amount of electrical energy 0 milliwatts) generated by a conventional. thermocouple or thermopile heated by a small flame such as that of a pilot burner. This object is accomplished by so arranging the swingable armature of an electromagnet that when the armature is in attracted position an end of the same is closely adjacent, but out of engagement with, the mouth of a pilotjet member so that the flow capacity thereof is substantially reduced.

A further object is to increase the sensitivity of the pilot valve by forming the armature asa permanent magnet adapted to swing freely into alignment with the lines of force of the electromagnet. i 1

For full understanding ofthe invention, and further appreciation of its features and advantages, reference is to be had to the following I detailed description and accompanyingdrawing,

and to the appended claims. In the drawing: f g

Figure l is a sectionalviewlof a diaphragm valve which includes a pilot valve embodying features of this invention; and n I I Figure 2 is a view, inelevation, of amodified form of pilot-valve operaton'according to the invention.

I z housing l8 secured to the casing. Carried by the diaphragm is a closure member I! cooperable with the seat IS; a disk serving as a gravity bias for the diaphragm and closure. P r

, Supportedv on top-oi the sub-housing'lfl, and encompassed by a housing 2|, is an electromagnetically-operated pilot-valve assembly. This assembly includes an electromagn'et consisting of a cylindrical core 22 around which is a coil 23 whose leads are connected to terminal posts 24 insulatingly mounted inthe side wall of the housing. Fitting tightly in a central opening go 26, of non-magnetic metal; the lower horizontal of the armature.

Referring first more particularly, Fig. 1 of the drawing, the numeral ll indicates a, valve casing having an inlet i2 and an outlet I3. separated by a partitio'n'il havingfaport 15 which terminates at its upper end in a valve seat I6 Covering the open top of the casing ll is a ilexibl'e diaphragm ll, of material such as leather or rubber, which is clamped at its margin between the rim of the casingandfthe flange of asubportion 21 of which has an opening tightly fitting the reduced upper end of the core. The top portion of the bracket is formed to provide a'pair of spaced-apart horizontal arms 28 between which, and pivotally mounted thereon by a pin 29, is an armaturetll of permanently magnetized metal and conveniently square in cross-section. The armature is biased to an inclined position, as shown in solid lines, by alight leaf-springs] secured to'the bracket 26 and bearing against the rounded extremity of the bent upper portion The diaphragm valve is shown associated with a gasburner system comprising amain burner 32 connected by apipe 33 to the outlet ill of the valve casing, and a pilot burner 34 which connected by a pipe 35 to the pressure chamber defined by the diaphragm l'l, the sub-housing l8, and the housing 2i; the interior of these housings being in continuous communication by way of an opening 36through the top wall or the sub-housing- The flames-310i the pilotburner serve toiignite the main'burner and also to heat a thermocouple or thermopile 3 8 of conventional construction and adapted to generate electricity in a well-known manner; the thermocouple being connected bywires'39 to the terminals 24 of ,theelectromagnet in series withan automatic pressure in the chamber above the diaphragm.

The energizing circuit of the electromagnet I2- 23 is so arranged that when the thermostat I is closed the pole ll of the core has a polarity opposite to that of-the adjacent pole of the permanently-magnetized armature Ill so that :he same is attracted and assumes the position shown in broken lines wherein it is so closely adjacent the mouth of the jet or pipe 25 that flow zherethrough is restricted to an amount only suf-. icient to maintain flame at the pilot burner; the gas pressure in the chamber above the diaphragm consequently beingso reduced that the :liaphragm is forced upwardly by the pressure acting on its underside and the main closure is .s opened. I

The sensitivity of operation of the pilot valve s due mainly to the fact that the armature is arranged to swing relatively freely into alignment with-the force-lines of the electromagnet; generally in the same manner as a magnetic compass; and very litle power is required to hold the armature in attracted position against the pressure of the gas flowing through the jet since that pressure is applied symmetrically to the armature and therefore has little tendency to disturb it. To avoid the possibility of the armature being retained in attracted position by the linkage of its lines of permanent-magnetic force with the core, the'armature is so arranged that it is relatively-widely spaced from the poleface ll of the core; the pole-face being preferably tapered as shown to increase this effect, as well 'as to concentrate the lines of force along the axis of the armature when the electromagnet is energized. The jet 251s preferably of non-magnetic material.

The modified form of pilot valve shown in Fig. 2 is substantially identical in operation with the pilot valve of Fig. 1, and comprises a U-shaped core 42 having around one of its side arms a coil 43. The jet or pipe 44 is arranged closely adjacent the other side arm of the core, the pipe being bent at its lower end so that its top or mouth is on a line directly between the side arms. The bracket 26 an abutment 45 for stopping the armature 30, when it is attracted against the bias of spring 3| upon energization of the electromagnet, in the position shown in broken lines wherein it is in alignment with the jet and adjacent the poleface 48 of the core; the proximity of,the repelling pole 4! increasing the sensitivity of operaion.

The specific embodiments of my invention herein shown and described are obviously susis modified to provide tromagnet; and an elongated armature member attractable by said electromagnet and biased therefrom; said armature member being pivoted at a point substantially on the of said jet member and when at cted, to a po-. sition wherein it is aligned with the jet member and so closely adjacent the mouth thereof as to substantially reduce flow therethrough.

3. In a valve operator: an -electromagnet an elongated armature member, permanently magnetized longitudinally, so mounted relative to said electromagnet that when the same is energized the armature member is attracted from a biased position to'anotber position wherein it is out of engagement with the electromagnet but substantially aligned with the lines of force thereof; and a jet member so disposed that its mouth is closely adjacent but out of engagement with said armature member when the same is in said attracted position, sothat the flow capacity of the jet member is then substantially reduced.

4. In a valve operator: an electromagnet comprising a core and a coil for energizing said core;

ceptible of modification without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I intend therefore to be limited only by the scope of the appended c1aims.'

I claim as myinvention:

1. In a valve operator: an electromagnet, an armature member attractable by said electromagnet and biased therefrom, and a jet member so disposed that when said armature memher is attracted the same is brought into align ment with the jet member and is then spaced by a small distance from the mouth thereof so that the flow capacity of the jet member is subltantially reduced. 7

2. In a valve operator: a: jet member; an elecan elongated armature member, permanently magnetized longitudinally, so pivotally mounted on said electromagnet that when the same is energized the armature member swings from a biased position to another position wherein an end thereof is adjacent but spaced from a poleface of said core; and a jet member mounted adjacent said pole-face so that, when the armature member is attracted, the mouth of the jet member is so closely adjacent said end of the armature member that the how capacity of the Jet member is substantially reduced.

5. In a valve operator: an electromagnet comprising a core and a coil for energizing said core; an elongated armature member, permanently magnetized longitudinally, so pivotally mounted on said electromagnet that when the same is energized the armature member swings from a biased position to another position wherein an end thereof is adjacent but spaced from a poleface of said core; and a jet member mounted adj acent said pole-face so that, when the armature member is attracted, the mouth of the jet member is so closely adjacent said end of the armature member that the flow capacity of the jet member is substantially reduced; said mouth of the jet member being substantially in the plane of said pole-face.

6. In a valve operator: an electromagnet comprising a corehaving a portion defining at its end a pole-face; an elongated armature member, permanently magnetized longitudinally, pivoted at a point substantially on the axis of said coreportion and attractable, when the electromagnet is energized, so that it swings from a biased position inclined from said axis into substantial alignment therewith so that an end of the armature member is adjacent said pole-face but spaced by such a distance therefrom that the permanent flux of the armature member is ineffectlve to retain thesame in said attracted position when the electromagnet is deenergized; and a jet member also substantially aligned with said axis and so disposed that when said armature member is in said attracted position an end of the'same is so'closely adjacent the mouth of the jet member that flow therethrough is substantially re-' duced.

a pole-face;

'7. In a) valve'operator; prising a core having manentiy magnetized longitudinally, pivoted at a point substantially on the axis of said core-portion and attractable, when the electromagnet is energized, so-that it swings from a. biased position inclined from said axis into substantial alignment'therewith so that an end of the armature member is closely adjacent said pole'face but spaced by such a distance therefrom that the permanent flux oi the armature member is in eiiective to retain the samein said attracted position when the electromagnet is deenergized; and a jet member also substantially aligned with said axis and so disposed that when said armature member is in said attracted-position an end or the same is so closely adjacent the mouth or the jet'member that flow therethrough is substantially reduced; said mouth of the jet member being substantially in the plane of said pole-face.

8. In a valve operator: an electromagnet comprising a core having a portion defining at its end.

6 a pole-face; and an elongated armature member, permanently magnetized longitudinally, pivoted at a point substantially on the axis of said coreportion and attractable, when the electromagnetis energized, so that it swings from abiased position inclined from said axis into substantial alignment therewith so that an end or the'armature member is then closely adjacent said poleface but spaced therefrom so that the permanent flux of the armature member is ineffective to retain the same in said attracted position when the electromagnet is deenergized; said core-portion being bored to constitute the same a jet member p having its mouth located in said pole-face, so

that when the armature member is in said attracted position flow through the jet member is substantially reduced.

EUGENE PAILLE.

No references cited. 

